MYRTIE JOHNSON

Myrtie Johnson, of Mora, died at Villa Health Care Center in Mora on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011. She was 99 years old.

FUNERAL SERVICE will be held at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Mora with Rev. Dean Oelfke officiating.

VISITATION will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.

INTERMENT will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Mora.

Myrtie T. Johnson, of Mora, died Sunday, August 7, 2011, at Villa Health Care Center in Mora. She was 99 years old.Myrtie was born to Nels and Hilda (Lundgren) Mork on January 1, 1912 at St. Peter, MN. While she was young, the family moved to the Dresser, Wisconsin area before settling in Taylors Falls, MN. She was confirmed in 1928 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taylors Falls. On February 14, 1931 she was married to Fordyce Johnson at the same church. Myrtie and Fordyce lived on a farm in Shafer, MN before moving to Mora in 1933. Myrtie’s brother, Gordon, had moved to Mora previously to establish a meat market. Myrtie’s parents, and her brother, Warren, also followed, and the family came to call Mora “home” for the rest of their lives. Myrtie loved working for Al Rau and the Bergstad brothers in the grocery business. She and Fordyce traveled often and they brought home beautiful photographs to share with friends. They also enjoyed weekly card games with friends. Celebrating holidays and special events was always important to Myrtie and Fordyce and they repeatedly opened their home for those gatherings.In 1975, Myrtie’s life was changed forever, when her beloved Fordyce was tragically killed in a car accident in Mora. As a widow, Myrtie joined the “Fa-Ho-Cha” women’s choir at Calvary Lutheran Church. She enjoyed the friendships that grew among the members as the choir rehearsed and traveled to local churches to perform. Myrtie was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two toddler aged brothers, brothers; Warren and Gordon, of Mora and her sister, Gladys, of California. Myrtie is survived by many loving family members, Jay (Marilyn) Mork of Lindstrom, Shelly (Marilyn) Mork of White Bear Lake, Kim (Doris) Mork of Brook Park, Kevin (Trudy) Mork of Mora, Marilyn (Adam) Crow of Mora, Laird (Louise) Mork of Mora, Dennis (Marilyn) Lone of San Francisco, CA, Aileen Sapp of Palmdale, Ca. and cousin, Arlene Hagstrom of St. Paul. Many dear friends, including the Villa staff that cared for her with such kindness at the end of her life, also survive. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.